Four minutes and 50 seconds which seemed like an eternity for the entire Olympic Stadium in Rome. During these interminable stoppages in play beyond the siren, the Italians had to defend until their last 22 meters, to hold a short success (18-15) against Scotland, on the first day of the Six Nations Tournament.
However, given the start of the match, Italian supporters were able to believe in a quieter victory this Saturday afternoon. Indeed, the Azzurri started in the best possible way by scoring two tries in the 8th and 14th minute. Louis Lynagh, son of former Australian international Michael Lynagh, then Tommaso Menoncello, then completely overtook their Scottish counterparts.
A real deluge
But around the 20th minute of play, it was the turning point of the match. The rain is starting to fall on the Olympic Stadium in Rome, and it will never stop falling. Finished the kicking game so effective by the Italians until then, everyone goes into “fight” mode. And in this register, the Scots have their say.
First it was Jack Dempsey who scored a full force try to allow the Chardon XV to come back (24th). Paolo Garbisi then converts two penalties, when Finn Russell responds with just one of his own. To ignite the end of the match, it is George Horne who will flatten a try in the corner of the Italian goal (67th). The score is then 18-15, and the fifteen Italians will fight until the end so that it does not move.
The end of the first day of the Tournament will pit England against Wales this Saturday at Twickenham (5:40 p.m.).
